Event
PDG Dr Tunji Funsho to Lead Session at Rotary District 9112 Seminar 2026
Dr Tunji Funsho will speak at Rotary District 9112 DTLS 2026 in Lagos on leadership ahead of the 2026–2027 Rotary year
Past District Governor Dr Tunji Funsho, a leading public health advocate and key figure in Africa’s polio eradication campaign, has been announced as a guest speaker at the 2026 Rotary International District 9112 District Team Learning Seminar.
Also read: Rotary District Seminar to Feature Inspirational Session by John Momoh
Dr Funsho will speak on the theme, “Leadership: Not for the weak-hearted,” at the seminar scheduled for February 20 and 21, 2026, at Orchid Hotel, Lekki, Lagos.
The announcement was made by Layi Abidoye, District Governor-elect of Rotary International District 9112, who described the District Team Learning Seminar as a mandatory leadership programme for district officers preparing to serve in the 2026–2027 Rotary year.
Abidoye said the seminar remains central to Rotary’s leadership development framework, reflecting the organisation’s commitment to capacity building, knowledge sharing and service excellence across its global network.
Dr Funsho, a Nigerian cardiologist and Past District Governor, is widely recognised for his pivotal role in the eradication of wild poliovirus in Africa. He served as Chair of Rotary’s Nigeria National PolioPlus Committee and now holds the position of Chair Emeritus.
In that role, he led nationwide immunisation campaigns and advocacy efforts in collaboration with partners in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, including the World Health Organization, UNICEF, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Gates Foundation and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.
A former student of King’s College, Lagos, Dr Funsho trained as a cardiologist and became a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of London.
His medical background laid the foundation for his transition into large-scale public health advocacy, particularly in tackling vaccine hesitancy and strengthening community engagement in underserved areas.
His contributions were instrumental in Nigeria achieving three consecutive years without wild poliovirus, culminating in Africa’s certification as wild polio-free in August 2020.
In recognition of his work, TIME magazine named him among its 100 Most Influential People in 2020, making him the first Rotarian to receive the honour for polio eradication efforts.
At DTLS 2026, Dr Funsho will join other dignitaries, including the Chairman and CEO of Channels Media Group, Dr John Momoh, alongside Rotary leaders from across the district.
Organisers said the presence of high-profile speakers is expected to enrich discussions and inspire participants as they prepare for leadership responsibilities in the coming Rotary year.
Also read: Rotary District 9112 Unveils Joint End-of-Year Event for Children and Families
They added that the seminar’s focus on learning, strategic engagement and effective service delivery positions DTLS 2026 as a landmark event for Rotary International District 9112.
The Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare, has been announced as the Keynote Speaker for the Anniversary Public Lecture of Lagos-based online newspaper, thegazellenews’.com.
The lecture is scheduled to hold on Wednesday, 15 July, 2026 at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Lagos, by 10:00 a.m.
The event will focus on the theme: “Driving Grassroots Governance with Public-Private Partnership: The Pains, The Challenges, The Prospects
In a statement, the management of TheGazelleNews said the annual lecture series was established to provide a platform for intellectual discourse and policy conversations on critical national issues affecting Nigeria and its people.
The organisers noted that the lecture has, over the years, attracted eminent personalities, policymakers, academics, media practitioners, captains of industry and political stakeholders from across the country.
The management described Dare as a seasoned administrator, journalist and communications strategist whose extensive experience in governance and public service positions him to lead discussions on grassroots governance and the role of public-private partnerships in national development.
“The annual lecture series was created to provide a platform for intellectual discourse and policy conversations on critical national issues affecting the country and its people,” the statement noted.
It further disclosed that invited guests and participants are expected from government institutions, media organisations, civil society groups and the private sector.
Dare, a distinguished global communications and multimedia expert, author and public speaker, brings more than three decades of experience across journalism, governance, public policy and strategic communications.
He currently serves as Special Adviser to President Tinubu on Media and Public Communications, where he plays a central role in shaping and coordinating the administration’s public communication strategy.
Throughout his career, he has built a reputation for combining journalism, public policy and stakeholder management, while championing institutional reforms, digital innovation and youth empowerment initiatives.
Before his current role, Dare served as Minister of Youth and Sports Development from 2019 to 2023, where he introduced the Nigeria Sports Industry Policy (NSIP), widely known as the “Sports as Business” model.
He also spearheaded the implementation of a 10-year Football Master Plan designed to reposition Nigerian football and launched the Adopt-an-Athlete Initiative to strengthen sports development.
Under his leadership, Nigeria recorded one of its most successful outings at major international sporting competitions, including the Commonwealth Games and the Olympics, securing a combined 35 medals.
He also facilitated the establishment of the N75 billion Nigeria Youth Investment Fund (NYIF) to support youth entrepreneurship and economic empowerment.
Earlier, Dare served as Executive Commissioner for Stakeholder Management at the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) between 2016 and 2019, overseeing stakeholder engagement and supervising key departments, including Licensing and Authorisation, Legal and Enforcement, and Zonal Operations.
He also previously served as Chief of Staff and Special Adviser on Media to Tinubu, managing media relations and political communications.
In the international media arena, Dare worked with the Independent Communication Network Limited (ICNL), publishers of The News/Tempo/PM News where he rose to become the General Editor of the flagship publication of the company, The News magazine. Dare was one of the leading lights in the media war against the military junta in the days of Babangida and late Sanni Abacha and was active in the guerilla journalism of that era.
He spent nearly a decade at Voice of America, rising to become Chief of the Hausa Service. In that capacity, he directed radio programming that reached an estimated audience of 28 million listeners daily across West Africa while introducing modern information technology tools into newsroom operations.
Academically, Dare attended Ahmadu Bello University, University of Jos, New York University, Harvard University and University of Oxford. He is currently pursuing a PhD in Intelligence and Global Security.
The management of TheGazelleNews expressed confidence that Dare’s experience in governance, media, public policy and strategic communications would enrich discussions at the anniversary lecture and stimulate meaningful conversations on strengthening grassroots governance through effective public-private partnerships.
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